Daniel Band
Encyclopedia
The Daniel Band is a Canadian hard rock
group. They were pioneers in Contemporary Christian Music
(CCM) for their sound that ranged from rock to heavy metal. During the early to mid 1980s, they were one of the most popular and important bands of their genre in the Christian music industry
.
called Bendale Bible Chapel which held a weekly coffeehouse (The One Way Inn) in its church basement, that featured various Christian rock groups, that the band members played in.
The Daniel Band suffered from the same problem that all Christian rock acts in Canada face in the country's tiny Christian music industry. In order to maintain a career, Christian musicians in Canada must play in the secular market or break into the immense American CCM industry. Daniel Band were never interested in playing bars and clubs. Though they had critical acclaim, played to large audiences, and had a large grassroots fan base, they never reached their goal of mainstream success in the American CCM market. Nevertheless, during that era, no other Canadian Christian musician or group matched their success. The band placed as a top three finalist in the 1982 Homegrown concert sponsored by Toronto radio station Q107
, and played at the El Mocambo
with the champion, Oliver Heavyside (listed in One-Hit Wonders--US and, as the Partland Brothers
, as One-hit wonders in Canada
) and runner-up, The Cameo Blues Band
, both longtime professional bar bands on the Toronto scene.
Their first album, On Rock (1982), offered a progressive rock sound that was typical of the era, in the tradition of April Wine
and Boston
, but with a harder edge. The solid rock guitar and high register vocals reminded fans of the Canadian rock group Rush
. Their sound grew heavier with Straight Ahead (1983), and by the time of their third album Run from the Darkness (1984) they were a heavy metal act with all the trappings. This was their spandex and studded dog collar stage, with a sound that was closer to AC/DC
.
Many argue the American CCM market was not ready for pure metal acts until much later into the mid to late 80s when Stryper
(1984) and other CCM bands such as Whitecross
, Bride
, Shout
, Guardian
, and Bloodgood
were able to sell records and establish hard rock as a viable genre in Christian music.
Daniel Band was not the first hard rock act in CCM; earlier Jesus music
rock acts included Chicago's blues-based Rez Band (Resurrection Band)
(with whom Daniel Band often opened for around Southern Ontario), hard rock band Barnabas, classic rock act Jerusalem, and Petra
, but they were the first band to offer a clear and simplistic gospel
message combined with a sound that was the heaviest so far.
The band has never officially broken up, (although a farewell concert was held in Toronto in April 1988) and its members have been involved with various projects in Churches (including Bendale) and Schools where the members now live. Tony Rossi released a blues based album on R.E.X. Records
in 1990. Dan McCabe was involved with a band called Dreamer which released one album, Full Metal Racket, in 1991., released a solo CD and played with his older children in a band called Nine-O-Five.
In 2000, Daniel Band played at the Cornerstone Festival in Illinois.
In November 2006, Daniel Band was featured as the opening group for Audio Adrenaline
's farewell tour concert in Toronto
, along with Geoff Moore
. Earlier in the year, there were two appearances in Sarnia
, including an August festival that also saw a reunion of a local (Arkona, Ontario
) group named Elim Hall, who were contemporaries of Daniel Band in the mid-1980s, and Glenn Kaiser Band
(featuring two members of Resurrection Band).
In 2007, the band played at a May celebration of the One Way Inn's (now a drop-in) 35th Anniversary and the 50th Anniversary of Bendale Bible Chapel, and Freedom Festival Canada in Oro-Medonte, Ontario
during August. They also played a show in Ajax in February 2009 with Glenn Kaiser opening, and in May 2009, again at Bendale. In July 2010, the band travelled to Chibougamau, Quebec
.
In 2011 the band was awarded a GMA Canada
Lifetime Achievement Award recognizing their influence in Christian music.
Re-releases
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
group. They were pioneers in Contemporary Christian Music
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
(CCM) for their sound that ranged from rock to heavy metal. During the early to mid 1980s, they were one of the most popular and important bands of their genre in the Christian music industry
Christian music industry
The Christian music industry is a small part of the larger music industry, that focuses on traditional Gospel music, Southern Gospel music, Contemporary Christian music, and alternative Christian music. It is sometimes called the gospel music industry, although this designation is not a limitation...
.
History
The group originated in 1979 in suburban Toronto, Ontario, and were based out of a Brethren Assembly in Scarborough, OntarioScarborough, Ontario
Scarborough is a dissolved municipality within the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it comprises the eastern part of Toronto. It is bordered on the south by Lake Ontario, on the west by Victoria Park Avenue, on the north by Steeles Avenue East, and on the east by the Rouge River...
called Bendale Bible Chapel which held a weekly coffeehouse (The One Way Inn) in its church basement, that featured various Christian rock groups, that the band members played in.
The Daniel Band suffered from the same problem that all Christian rock acts in Canada face in the country's tiny Christian music industry. In order to maintain a career, Christian musicians in Canada must play in the secular market or break into the immense American CCM industry. Daniel Band were never interested in playing bars and clubs. Though they had critical acclaim, played to large audiences, and had a large grassroots fan base, they never reached their goal of mainstream success in the American CCM market. Nevertheless, during that era, no other Canadian Christian musician or group matched their success. The band placed as a top three finalist in the 1982 Homegrown concert sponsored by Toronto radio station Q107
CILQ-FM
CILQ-FM is a radio station, broadcasting at 107.1 FM in Toronto, Ontario. The station broadcasts a classic rock format branded as Q107 and is also available through streaming audio....
, and played at the El Mocambo
El Mocambo
The El Mocambo Tavern is a live music and entertainment venue in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Located on Spadina Avenue, just south of College Street, the bar played an important role in the development of popular music in Toronto since the 19th century...
with the champion, Oliver Heavyside (listed in One-Hit Wonders--US and, as the Partland Brothers
Partland Brothers
The Partland Brothers, comprising brothers G.P. and Chris, are a Canadian rock band/duo formed in 1983, in Toronto, Ontario, best known for their 1987 hit single, "Soul City."-Biography:The Partlands come from the small community of Colgan, north of Toronto...
, as One-hit wonders in Canada
One-hit wonders in Canada
A one-hit wonder is a Top 40 phenomenon: the combination of artist and song that scores big in the music industry with one hit, but is unable to repeat the achievement with another hit. The term can refer to the artist, the song, or both together...
) and runner-up, The Cameo Blues Band
Cameo Blues Band
The Cameo Blues Band is a Toronto-based blues band, originally formed in 1978. It is particularly notable for its association with several of Canada's leading blues singers, including Richard "Hock" Walsh, Tony Flaim and Chuck Jackson, all of whom were also associated with the Downchild Blues...
, both longtime professional bar bands on the Toronto scene.
Their first album, On Rock (1982), offered a progressive rock sound that was typical of the era, in the tradition of April Wine
April Wine
April Wine is a Canadian rock band formed in 1969. According to the band, they chose the name 'April Wine' simply because members thought the two words sounded good together...
and Boston
Boston (band)
Boston is an American rock band from Boston, Massachusetts that achieved its most notable successes during the 1970s and 1980s. Centered on guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, and producer Tom Scholz, the band is a staple of classic rock radio playlists...
, but with a harder edge. The solid rock guitar and high register vocals reminded fans of the Canadian rock group Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
. Their sound grew heavier with Straight Ahead (1983), and by the time of their third album Run from the Darkness (1984) they were a heavy metal act with all the trappings. This was their spandex and studded dog collar stage, with a sound that was closer to AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
.
Many argue the American CCM market was not ready for pure metal acts until much later into the mid to late 80s when Stryper
Stryper
Stryper is a Christian glam metal band from Orange County, California. The group's lineup consists of Michael Sweet , Oz Fox , Tim Gaines , and Robert Sweet...
(1984) and other CCM bands such as Whitecross
Whitecross
Whitecross is a Christian metal band that formed in 1985 in Waukegan, IL releasing their first recording in the year 1987. Their early albums, which often invite comparisons to Ratt, are laced with fast, technical guitar work. In 1994, bandleader, primary songwriter and producer Rex Carroll split...
, Bride
Bride (band)
Bride is a Christian heavy metal/hard rock band formed in the 80s, by brothers Dale and Troy Thompson. During the band's peak years it was known for covering a wide range of musical styles and remains popular in places like Brazil...
, Shout
Shout (band)
Shout was a Christian glam metal band formed in 1987 by Ken Tamplin. Musically the band was similar to Stryper, but the Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music cites them as being "more competent than Stryper". Lyrically, their songs were generally more straightforward than other Christian...
, Guardian
Guardian (band)
Guardian is an American Christian hard rock/metal band. The band released six studio albums, three additional albums in Spanish—and toured extensively worldwide...
, and Bloodgood
Bloodgood
Bloodgood is a Christian metal band from Seattle, Washington. Originally formed in 1984 and by 1988 represented one of the four largest Christian metal bands alongside Barren Cross, Whitecross, and Leviticus....
were able to sell records and establish hard rock as a viable genre in Christian music.
Daniel Band was not the first hard rock act in CCM; earlier Jesus music
Jesus music
Jesus music, known as gospel beat music in the United Kingdom, is a style of Christian music which originated on the West Coast of the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This musical genre developed in parallel to the Jesus movement...
rock acts included Chicago's blues-based Rez Band (Resurrection Band)
Resurrection Band
Resurrection Band, also known as Rez Band or REZ, was a Christian rock band formed in 1972. They were part of the Jesus People USA Christian community in Chicago and most of its members have continued in that community to this day. Known for their blend of blues-rock and hard rock, Resurrection...
(with whom Daniel Band often opened for around Southern Ontario), hard rock band Barnabas, classic rock act Jerusalem, and Petra
Petra (band)
Petra is a music group regarded as a pioneer of the Christian rock and contemporary Christian music genres. Formed in 1972, the band took its name from the Greek word for "rock"...
, but they were the first band to offer a clear and simplistic gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
message combined with a sound that was the heaviest so far.
The band has never officially broken up, (although a farewell concert was held in Toronto in April 1988) and its members have been involved with various projects in Churches (including Bendale) and Schools where the members now live. Tony Rossi released a blues based album on R.E.X. Records
R.E.X. Records
R.E.X. Records was an independent record label founded by Doug Mann and Gavin Morkel, which operated from 1987 until running into financial difficulty in 1995. Operations were based in Chicago until 1990 when the company moved to Nashville...
in 1990. Dan McCabe was involved with a band called Dreamer which released one album, Full Metal Racket, in 1991., released a solo CD and played with his older children in a band called Nine-O-Five.
In 2000, Daniel Band played at the Cornerstone Festival in Illinois.
In November 2006, Daniel Band was featured as the opening group for Audio Adrenaline
Audio Adrenaline
Audio Adrenaline was a Christian rock band that formed in the late 1980s at Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, Kentucky. During the band's 17-year existence, they were awarded two Grammy awards, multiple Dove Awards and they released 17 number one singles. They were regular performers at the...
's farewell tour concert in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, along with Geoff Moore
Geoff Moore
In 1988, Geoff Moore and the Distance released their first official album together, entitled A Place to Stand. They also recorded Foundations in 1989 for Sparrow Records. After a while, they jumped to Forefront Records and recorded Pure and Simple in 1990.They followed in 1992 with A Friend Like U...
. Earlier in the year, there were two appearances in Sarnia
Sarnia, Ontario
Sarnia is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada . It is the largest city on Lake Huron and is located where the upper Great Lakes empty into the St. Clair River....
, including an August festival that also saw a reunion of a local (Arkona, Ontario
Arkona, Ontario
Arkona is a community located in the municipality of Lambton Shores in southwestern Ontario near the Lambton-Middlesex county line, situated beside the Ausable River, on Former Kings Highway 79 , Arkona is roughly half-way between Thedford, and Watford...
) group named Elim Hall, who were contemporaries of Daniel Band in the mid-1980s, and Glenn Kaiser Band
Glenn Kaiser
Glenn Kaiser is a Chicago-based Christian blues musician, singer-songwriter and pastor. He was the leader of Resurrection Band and is currently the leader of The Glenn Kaiser Band.-Childhood:...
(featuring two members of Resurrection Band).
In 2007, the band played at a May celebration of the One Way Inn's (now a drop-in) 35th Anniversary and the 50th Anniversary of Bendale Bible Chapel, and Freedom Festival Canada in Oro-Medonte, Ontario
Oro-Medonte, Ontario
Oro-Medonte is a township in south-central Ontario, Canada on the northwestern shores of Lake Simcoe in Simcoe County.The two neighbouring townships of Oro and Medonte were merged together in 1994, under a restructuring of Simcoe County. It is divided into lines based on the concession system...
during August. They also played a show in Ajax in February 2009 with Glenn Kaiser opening, and in May 2009, again at Bendale. In July 2010, the band travelled to Chibougamau, Quebec
Chibougamau, Quebec
Chibougamau is a town in central Quebec, Canada, located on Lake Gilman. It has a population of 7,563 people , which makes it the largest community in northern Quebec...
.
In 2011 the band was awarded a GMA Canada
GMA Canada
GMA Canada is the Gospel Music Association of Canada . Created in 1974, the organization is a not for profit association whose mission is to promote the growth and ministry of Christian music arts in Canada...
Lifetime Achievement Award recognizing their influence in Christian music.
Band members
- Tony Rossi (lead guitar, vocals)
- Dan McCabe (lead vocals, bass)
- Bill Findlay (guitar, keyboards, vocals)
- Peter Cosman (to 1982), Matt Delduca (drums)
- Wayne Morgan (now a Pastor at a Baptist church in Prince George, British ColumbiaPrince George, British ColumbiaPrince George, with a population of 71,030 , is the largest city in northern British Columbia, Canada, and is known as "BC's Northern Capital"...
) - Bill Davidson (bass)
- Stu Christie (drums)
Albums
- On Rock - 1982 Released on Streetlight in Canada and Lamb & Lion/BensonBenson RecordsBenson Records was founded by Bob Benson & John T. Benson, beginning as the John T. Benson Music Publishing Company in 1902. The record label started out as Heart Warming Records and would come to house labels such as Impact Records, Greentree Records, RiverSong, StarSong and Home Sweet Home...
in the US. - Straight Ahead - 1983 Released on Streetlight in Canada and Refuge RecordsRefuge RecordsRefuge Records was a Christian record label founded in 1980 by Greg Nelson and Ray Nenow.Refuge Records became an important label in the development of the West Coast Christian alternative music scene...
/Benson in the US. - Run From The Darkness – 1984 Released on Streetlight in Canada and Refuge/Benson in the US.
- Rise Up - 1986 Released on Refuge in the US.
- Running Out Of Time - 1987 Released on Refuge/Lexicon-Spectra in the US.
- Best Of Daniel Band - 1993 Released on Refuge-Alternative in the US.
- Live At Cornerstone - 2001 (limited edition) Released on Magdalene/M8 in the US.
Re-releases
- On Rock - 2001 (2 CD limited edition) Released on Magdalene/M8 in the US.
- Rise Up / Running Out Of Time - 2003 Released on Retroactive in the US.
- Straight Ahead / Run From The Darkness - 2003 Released on Retroactive in the US.
- Straight Ahead - 2006 Released on Retroactive in the US.( This cd includes 2 bonus tracks)
- Run from Darkness - 2006 Released on Retroactive in the US. (enhanced CD which includes the video of 'Walk On the Water" and 2 unreleased bonus tracks)
- On Rock (Collector's Edition) - 2010 Released on Retroactive in the US.
Songs on compilations
- History Of Canadian Christian New Music, "Run From The Darkness" (2000)
- GMA Canada presents 30th Anniversary CollectionGMA Canada presents 30th Anniversary CollectionGMA Canada presents 30th Anniversary Collection is a three-CD collection commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Gospel Music Association of Canada. It showcases the history of Christian music in Canada...
, "He's The Creator" (CMC, 2008)
External links
- One Way Inn. Daniel Band information.
- The Phantom Tollbooth: review of 2003 Straight Ahead/Run From the Darkness reissue.
- Daniel Band In Concert Live Video. The One Way Inn 30th Anniversary.
- February 2009 performance of I'm Sorry